Sacred Datura
Thorn-Apple

Datura wrightii

Photographed in the foothills of Four Peaks, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Sept. 2006 The image is also hosted at the Wikimedia Project

Closs-up of fruit. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License.

FLOWERS: Large, funnel-shaped, highly fragrant flowers open at night to be pollinated mostly by sphinx moths.

PERENNIAL : Robust plant of mid summer into fall. Underground potato-like tubers regrow for several seasons. Plants two meters across and a meter tall possible.

LEAVES: Broad triangulate leaves are dark green and often have evidence of caterpillar feeding.

FRUIT: Spherical capsule with fleshy thorns. Upon drying the fruit breaks open irregularly to reveal large, tan seeds.

RANGE: Frequent throughout the Sonoran Desert especially in riparian habitats and near mesquite bosques. Also widely cultivated.

UNARMED

Solanaceae -- Nightshade Family

More Information:

• Jepson Manual
• Firefly Forest - Tucson
• ITIS Taxonomic Report
• USDA Plant Profile
• Google Images
• Google Scholar Literature Search

Datura metaloides is toxic to mammals and is rarely eaten by them. On the other hand many insects, especially beetles, make their living by feeding on the leaves, flowers, fruit and stems. Some of the common ones are shown here. Click on thumb images for additional information.